Takeaway Tee

ABSTRACT

An elongate strip of material includes a longitudinal base, a forward portion for receiving a tee whose heard is to be disposed above a substantially planar surface, and a rearward portion. The forward portion and the rearward portion tangentially align about the substantially planar surface to visually stimulate a projected trajectory.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/903,870, filed 25 Sep. 2007, titled “Golf Swing Alignment Apparatus.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to golf apparatuses. In particular, the present invention relates to golf apparatuses that assist in a golfer's swing.

2. Description of Related Art

This invention relates generally to the field of golf and more specifically to an article of manufacture for golf swing alignment and specifically for a straightforward swing ‘rescue’ or re-alignment during recreational play or practice by focusing on the takeaway or first move in a golf swing.

The present invention concerns golf teaching devices, and more particularly concerns a golf teaching device adapted to rescue a golfer's swing alignment in the middle of a round as well as during practice. Golf is a deceptively complex game, when golfers ‘lose’ their swing in the middle of a round, they need to figure out what the problem is and ‘get back on plane’ to correctly hit the golf ball. Since most golfers do not use caddies, it is hard for them to figure out what they are doing wrong. Some will hit ‘practice’ shots into the trees to re-align their swing. They need something that can help them correct the sudden swing flaw.

It is important for novice golfers to learn a proper golf stance including a proper takeaway and a proper golf swing, so that consistently successful golf shots can be made. Also, it is important for more experienced golfers to periodically “return to the basics” or otherwise refine their game. Experienced golfers sometimes lose their swing plane in the middle of a round. Most golfers know that a ‘takeaway’ is the first move of a golf swing and it consists of taking the club back 18 inches low to the ground over an imaginary line before a shoulder turn is iniated for the remainder of the swing. One problem is that in anticipation of hitting the golf ball, the shoulder turn or lifting of the club is initiated prematurely before the club completes the 18 inches thus causing the swing to be ‘off plane’ or not properly aligned. Since the takeaway path line is imagined and even though most golfers know how far 18 inches is, they sub consciously forget and begin the shoulder turn before 18 inches is compete.

Golfers also lose alignment and recheck their aim using golf clubs placed on their chest or thighs. Correctly practicing the same golf swing creates muscle memory while practicing an incorrect swing is counter productive. Professional golfers use clubs on the ground to align themselves to the target which is not the most convient way to get properly aligned. Proper club head alignment and position relative to the ball is critical to hitting a golf ball even though alignment lines are not visible and must be imagined.

There are numerous golf training devices that attempt to improve a golfer's game by, among other things, improving a golfer's stance and the placement of a golf ball relative to the stance. These devices attempt to reduce the variables of alignment and ball placement, thus allowing the golfer to concentrate on his/her swing. However, many of these devices are cumbersome to set up and/or use, awkward to adjust, and/or difficult to carry. Further, many of these devices do not work, or distract the golfer such that it is difficult for the golfer to concentrate on his/her swing. For example, some devices in effect capture one or both of a golfer's feet such that the golfer cannot move in a natural manner without fear of stepping on the device. This causes the golfer to focus on avoiding the device, rather than on his/her swing. Other devices include vertically extending posts and the like that get in the way and make the device cumbersome to set up and use. Also, some of these devices are unsightly, and can be embarrassing for a golfer to use. Still other devices provide a complex adjustment mechanism that either takes a long time to adjust, is subject to error, or that requires a more complex adjustment procedure than most golfers are willing to make.

Therefore, there exists a need for a compact and straightforward golf alignment device that can be carried in a golf bag and used while practicing or playing and which provides an alignment means for the golfer's stance and target line, and which further has a target line alignment member positioned directly on the target line and which enables the golfer to strike balls therefrom.

Thus, a golf teaching device is desired solving the aforementioned problems. This invention relates generally to the field of golf and more specifically to an article of manufacture for golf swing alignment and specifically for a straightforward swing ‘rescue’ or re-alignment during recreational play or practice by focusing on the takeaway or first move in a golf swing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention itself, as well as a preferred mode of use and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrates a perspective view of an elongate strip of material.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of an elongate strip of material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the figures, FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate perspective views of an elongate strip of material 10 according to a preferred embodiment. Elongate strip of material 10 includes a longitudinal base 22, a forward portion 16A, and a rearward portion 16B. Forward portion 16A includes an aperture 17A for receiving a tee whose head is to be disposed above a substantially planar surface. Forward portion 16A and rearward portion 16B tangentially align about a substantially planar surface in order to stimulate a projected trajectory.

Rearward portion 16B of elongate strip of material 10 also includes anchoring aperture 17B for securing elongate strip of material 10 to a planar surface. Similarly forward portion 16A includes apertures 16B in order to insert an item about which a golf ball may be mounted. In certain embodiments the item may be a golf tee. Further, forward portion 16A includes directional mechanism 12 in order to indicate the projected trajectory to which the golf ball should travel. Aperture 17A is purposefully formed to be larger than anchoring aperture 17B. Additionally linear member 20 aligns about forward portion 16A and is oriented so that it runs substantially perpendicular to longitudinal base 22. Linear member 20 assists in visually stimulating a user to understand swinging a golf club towards a golf ball suspended about aperture 17A that a point of impact is near.

In an alternative embodiment at least one additional linear member may be aligned substantially parallel to linear member 22 in order to provide further warning to one swinging a golf club that a point of impact is near. In yet another alternative embodiment, rearward portion 16B is ovular. In still yet another embodiment, rearward portion 16B is square.

In certain embodiments, side multiple adaptations may be made to elongate strip of material 10. For example, elongate strip of material 10, may be of varying lengths. In one embodiment elongate strip of material 10 may be 18 inches. In other embodiments, elongate strip of material may be greater than 18 inches, while yet in other embodiments elongate strip of material 10 may be less than 18 inches. Similarly, various components may be of varying lengths, shapes, and sizes. For example, aperture 17A may be of a smaller or larger size depending on various tee sizes. In Certain embodiments aperture 17A may be of a much smaller size so that a golf tee friction fits within its size. In other embodiments aperture 17A may be sized to be just large enough to suspend a golf ball above the ground. This would be ideal if a user desires to practice hitting golf balls from ground locations without taking divots out of the ground. Aperture 17A, can be sized to encompass various diameters that allow for a golf ball to be suspended off the ground without necessity for a golf tee or other item used to hold a golf ball.

Further, in yet other embodiments, directional mechanism 12 may take various shapes and forms. For example, instead of directional mechanism 12 taking a triangular shape having three sides, in other embodiments directional mechanism 12 may take an arrow shape with only two sides with longitudinal base 22 equally dissecting the two. In yet other embodiments, directional mechanism 12, may be of a half circle shape such that longitudinal base 22 dissects the middle of the half circle and the remainder of the circle curves inward to “point” in a forward fashion. In still other embodiments directional mechanism may be of an inverted-V shape so that each of the “legs” angularly extend away from longitudinal base 22. In yet other embodiments, directional mechanism 12 may be shaped in an ovular fashion.

Similarly, other components of elongate strip of material 10 may take variable shapes and include additional members. For example, linear member 20 may include additional arms which extend at the ends of linear member 20 and point backward while aligning parallel to linear member 20. Additionally, linear member 20, need not necessarily be linear, but only need to serve as a “warning point” for one who is swinging a golf club, that a point of impact is soon approaching. To that end, linear member 20 may extend to a shorter or longer length than is shown. Similarly, numerous linear members may run perpendicular to longitudinal base 22 and parallel to linear member 20. In yet other embodiments numerous linear members may run in a staggering orientation to form somewhat of an arrow shape that faces in the direction of forward portion 16A. Still in yet other embodiments, linear member 20 may be slightly concave or convex.

Referring now to FIG. 2, elongate strip of material 10, is shown having longitudinal base 22, rearward portion 16B, anchored by a golf tee T, forward portion 16A, anchored by golf tee T and directional mechanism 12 oriented to the right of the page.

Various components of elongate strip of material 10 may be made from a wide variety of materials. These materials may include metallic or non-metallic, magnetic or non-magnetic, elastomeric or non-elastomeric, malleable or non-malleable materials. Non-limiting examples of suitable materials include metals, plastics, polymers, wood, alloys, composites and the like. The metals may be selected from one or more metals, such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, nickel, magnesium, or any other structural metal. Examples of plastics or polymers may include, but are not limited to, nylon, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyester (PE), polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinylchloride (PVC), or polycarbonate and combinations thereof, among other plastics. Elongate strip of material 10 and its various components may be molded, sintered, machined and/or combinations thereof to form the required pieces for assembly. Furthermore elongate strip of material 10 and its various components may be manufactured using injection molding, sintering, die casting, or machining.

It will be understood that particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention can be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.

All of the compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of various embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that other variations can be applied to the compositions and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. An elongate strip of material comprising a: A longitudinal base; A forward portion for receiving a tee whose head is to be disposed above a substantially planar surface; and A rearward portion; Wherein the forward portion and the rearward portion tangentially align about the substantially planar surface for visually stimulating a projected trajectory.
 2. The elongate strip of material of claim 1, wherein the rearward portion further comprises an anchoring aperture for securing the elongate strip to a planar surface.
 3. The elongate strip of material of claim 1, wherein the forward portion further comprises an aperture for inserting an item about which a golf ball may be mounted.
 4. The elongate strip of material of claim 3, wherein the item is a golf tee.
 5. The elongate strip of material of claim 1, wherein the forward portion further comprises a directional mechanism for indicating the projected trajectory.
 6. The elongate strip of material of claim 2, wherein the forward portion further comprises an aperture which is larger than the anchoring mechanism.
 7. An elongate strip of material comprising: A longitudinal base; A forward portion; A rearward portion; and A linear member aligned about the forward portion and oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal base; Wherein the forward portion and the rearward portion align about a substantially planar surface to visually stimulate a projected trajectory.
 8. The elongate strip of material of claim 7, wherein the linear member visually stimulates a user to understand that a point of impact is near.
 9. The elongate strip of material of claim 7, further comprising at least one additional linear member aligned substantially parallel to the at least one linear member to provide further warning that a point of impact is near.
 10. The elongate strip of material of claim 7, wherein the rearward portion is circular.
 11. The elongate strip of material of claim 7, wherein the rearward portion is square. 